Aronia arbutifolia

(Photinia pyriflolia) Red Chokeberry

This deciduous shrub has it all! Fruit for the birds, nectar for insects, cover for wildlife and multi-season beauty. Clusters of spring blooming white to pinkish flowers provide loads of nectar for pollinators. Dense clusters of glossy red fruit follow the flowers. The fruit ripens in late summer and persists through winter. The glossy foliage turns brilliant red in autumn, making it a terrific alternative to the non-native, burning bush (Euonymus alatus).

Benefits:

• Compact plant that makes an excellent hedge and provides cover for wildlife


• This selection has lustrous foliage with superior red color in the fall


• Abundance of large glossy fruit provides late season berries for birds


• Prolific flowers provide nectar in spring for early butterflies and pollinators


• Tolerant of a wide range of conditions including wet or poor soils

Homeowner Growing and Maintenance Tips

Easy to grow in well-drained soils with average moisture in full sun or part shade.

Wide range of soil tolerance including boggy or dry soils.

Best fruit production usually occurs in full sun.

Remove root suckers if you don't want plants to spread into colonies.

Height 6-10 Feet

Spread 3-5 Feet

Native Range Swamps and bogs, also drier thickets; Newfoundland to Florida along the coast, from New England west and south to Ohio and Kentucky down to Texas. Distribution Maps by State and County

Native Trivia Chokeberries aren't palatable to birds until they have been frosted multiple times, so the berries persist well into the season for you to enjoy.

USDA Hardiness Zone 4-9

"This plant offers birds cover in the warm months and food all winter long."

Good Companions Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), Witherod (Viburnum nudum), Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium), American Cranberry Viburnum (Viburnum trilobum), Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)

Characteristics & Attributes

Plan Sub Group • Medium to Tall Shrubs	Exposure • Sun • Filtered Shade	Soil Moisture Preference • Dry • Moist but well-drained	Attracts Wildlife • Beneficial insects • Hummingbirds • Mammals • Songbirds
Bloom Time • Early Spring	Habitat Collection • Dry Shade • Songbird	Foliage Color • Red	Uses • Hedge, screen